Water heater for internal-combustion engines



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,920

J. E. ROHNE WATER HEATER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 21. 1926 nect the engine block to the radiator.

Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

ururan STATES Insane PATENT OFFICE.

JENS E. ROHNE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO EVEN J. ROHNE, 0F MINNEALPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

WATER HEATER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed June 21,

My invention provides an extremely simple and highly eilicient water heater for internal combustion engines, especially adapted for use in connection with engines of motor-pro pelled vehicles. This heater is not only of simple construction, but is of such character that'it may be quickly applied as a substitute for the customary coupling pipe used to con- For application of the invention to the engines of Ford cars, for example, the water-conduct ing pipe of the heater will be made of the same diameter and length as the standard Ford coupling pipe, so that the complete heater may be readily substituted for the removed coupling pipe. In the engines of certain other cars, a long flexible hose section is used as the coupling pipe, and in such arrangements, the heater may be readily substituted for such flexible hose coupling.

The heater is intended for what may be designated as emergency .use, that is, for use in very cold weather to keep the cooling water of the engine in circulation and at such temperature far above the freezing point that the 'enginewill start easily, even when the car is left in-a very cold garage. The heater is designed tov be readily coupled to any of the local wires of the lighting. or heating system.

A commercial form of the heater is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective diagrammatically showing an engine and radiator of the Ford type and illustrating the manner of applying the heater thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the heater, showing also portions of the flexible hose couplings connected thereto;

Fig. 3 is an axial section of the heater; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the wiring of the heater.

Of the parts of the Ford car illustrated, the numeral 5 indicates the engine block and the numeral 6 the radiator. The numeral 7 indicates a cold water return nipple from the pan or base of the radiator, and the numeral 8 indicates the cold water return nipple applied in the usual way to the engine block. The numeral 9 indicates a hot water circulating connection between the top of the engine block and the top of the radiator.

In the usual Ford equipment, a metallic from the sleeve 12 into the said collars.

1926. Serial No. 117,376.

coupling pipe is connected 'to the nipples 7 and 8-, respectively. by short flexible hose sections 10 'and ll. The heater designed for application to Ford cars comprises a main coupling tube 12, preferably of brass but of any other suitable metal, and which tube is of approximately the diameter and length of the removed coupling tube, not shown.

Surrounding the intermediate and main portion of the tube 12 is a cylindrical electrical heating element of such character that it is adapted to be telescopically slid as an entirety onto said tube. This heating element, as shown, comprises a heating coil 13 preferably wound on a very thin cylindrical core 14 of asbestos paper or the like. This coil is covcred by a heavy surrounding jacket 15 of insulating material. The said members 13,14: and 15 are cemented or otherwise connected together so that they form a. self-contained unit adapted to he slid as an entirety onto the sleeve 12.

Loosely placed around this cylindrical heating element is a metallic sleeve 16 of considerably greater diameter and much shorter. than the sleeve 12, and this outer sleeve, which constitutes a casing, is held in position spaced from and concentric with the heating element, by means of reducing collars 17 of aluminum, brass or other suitable metal. The larger inner ends of these collars 17 are telescoped over the ends of the outer sleeve 16, while the reduced outer ends of said collars closely fit the sleeve 12 and are securely anchored thereto against sliding movements, the latter noted action being preferably ac complished by interlocked bosses 18 pres ls ed he outer sleeve 16 is provided with outwardly projecting parallel contact pins 19 that are adapted for engagement with the imbedded contacts of a standard coupling socket 20 in-- dicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and which socket is applied at the end of service wires 21 of the local lighting or heating system.

The contact pins 19 are shown as provided with nuts 22 located in the space between the outer sleeve 16 and the heating element. The ends of the heating wire 13 are coupled to the contact pins 19 and are formed with sulficient slack to permit this connection while the outer sleeve 16 is telescopcd oil from the'heating element far enough to permit access to the nuts 22 for the purpose of effecting the ccn- 'nection just indicated.

The complete electrical heater made up of the various parts described, when assembled, is a very compact, simple and self-contained device capable of application to the engine of 'a motorpropelled vehicle in the same manner that the customary or any suitable simple coupling ipe would be connected. This connection 0 the heater is accomplished by telescoping the ends of the sleeve 12 into the hose sectionslO, then clampin the hose sections onto the same, preferably by the use of the ordinary clamping bands 23.

The efiiciency of this heater has been thoroughly demonstrated in its use during the coldest winter weather, on the engines of automobiles in the open and in unheated garages. It may be quickly applied, quickly cut into and out of action and may be operated at very small cost.

This improved heater, it will be noted, does not in any way restrict the flow or circulation of the water and, hence, when not in use, 0perates simply as a conducting pipe Without obstructions and, therefore, is a. perfect subouter tube, the said parts being assembled as a self-contained unit adapted to be applied substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' JENS E. ROI-INF. 

